Morning practices worth it for CSC champion Platt Tech

William S. Paxton

Updated 12:51 am, Friday, May 24, 2013

WILLIMANTIC -- When the season first started, nobody looked forward to Sue Murphy's 5:30 a.m. practices. It was even worse if you arrived late, which resulted in some early morning running around the Milford campus.

All those blearily eyed workouts proved to be worth it Thursday afternoon when the Platt Tech softball team hoisted the hefty Constitution State Conference trophy and sang along with "We are the Champions" after beating Goodwin Tech in the championship game at Eastern Connecticut State University.

"Obviously when we first started, it was like, `It's five-thirty in the morning, I don't want to get up,'" said junior pitcher Brooke Pawlak, who not only picked up the win vs. Goodwin Tech but also drove in three runs in Platt Tech's 10-3 victory. "Then you get used to it and it's kind of fun. (Winning a championship) definitely makes it worth it."

"It's a total team effort," said Murphy, who recorded her 400th career victory with the Panthers (19-4) this season, earning a 16th conference crown -- and first since 2010.

"We start four freshmen and a junior who is in her first year, so really five brand-new players. So we were not supposed to be anywhere this year. I didn't think we'd make state tournament, but to go on and do what they have done is just a credit to every kid. The 5:30 a.m. practices, they all show up and give you everything they got."

Pawlak (five strikeouts) and Goodwin Tech pitcher Shyleen Ortiz both delivered their all at the onset, with neither team managing a run through two innings.

In the bottom of the third, Devin Cipriani led off with an infield single to set the table for a big inning from the Panthers.

After advancing to third base on a pair of passed balls, Cipriani scored on Erin Daly's grounder to first base to give Platt Tech a 1-0 lead.

Amber Lewandowski followed with a walk and Pawlak then launched a blast to left field that was misplayed, allowing all three Platt Tech runners to score and make it 4-0 as the ball rolled to the wall.

"They have been hitting all year and I knew they weren't going to be intimidated by the fast pitching, it was just a matter of time before they got it done," Murphy said.

The Gladiators (15-7) answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, with Jocelyn Burgos and Yarelis Luciano each driving in a run with a single, to cut it to 4-3.

Pawlak came through again with a big hit in the fourth, drilling a two-out grounder down the third-base line to score Cipriani and Lewandowski, who both reached on walks.

Veronica Buzelle extended the lead to 7-3 with a single to right, scoring Pawlak.

Two Goodwin Tech throwing errors allowed the Panthers to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and take a commanding 10-3 advantage.

Pawlak made sure the large lead held up, retiring eight of the final 10 batters she faced to send the Panthers back to the state tournament for the first time in three years.

"We came out and we played hard," Pawlak said. "Whenever you are in the lead, you feel more comfortable, but knowing you are ahead, you get more confident."